Sat 8:52pm: Machinists to vote again on Boeing 777X offer

December 21, 2013

SEATTLE - National leaders of the Machinists union are scheduling a vote on a proposed contract between Boeing and Puget Sound machinists, despite objections from local union officials who have already rejected the company's latest offer.

The lead negotiator for the union's national headquarters, Rich Michalski, told The Seattle Times in a phone interview that a vote is set for Jan. 3, the newspaper reported today.

The contract would secure work on Boeing new 777X airplane at a time when 22 states are vying for those jobs. The company says it expects to pick a location early next year.

The local union, District 751, said on its website today that there's no stopping the vote and urged members to reject the contract.

"Despite objections from District 751 leadership, the International has insisted on a vote on January 3rd to ensure you spend your holidays studying and debating a concessionary proposal that is largely unchanged from the one you rejected by a 2-to-1 margin on Nov. 13," the statement said.

"We're adamantly recommending that our members reject the offer," local union spokesman Bryan Corliss said today. "The timing will make it hard to get members information to make a decision."

National union spokesman Frank Larkin said today the vote is being scheduled to respond to members who have been calling for one and in keeping with a long union tradition that members have the final say.

He added: "It's obviously a controversial proposal. There is a range of opinions. The vote will be by secret ballot and the members will have the last word."